What is an AirTag? | Mashable

January 10, 2022January 9, 2022 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

There are two kinds of people in this world: People who have been late to an event because they cannot find their keys or wallet or purse, and people who are liars.

Apple’s AirTag, a tracking device released on April 30, 2021, set out to fix that first group’s problem. Designed to act as a key finder, the tool can also be slapped on an animals’ collar, tucked into a bag, or, yes, even attached to a car or a person.

But what actually is an AirTag?

Apple AirTags are built for your keychain — each unit is 1.26 inches in diameter, which is about twice the size of a quarter. Starting at $29, the water-resistant tool uses Apple’s Find My network and Bluetooth signals to connect your phone with the tag and guide you to your misplaced item. It’s compatible with any iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch device capable of running iOS and iPadOS 14.5 or later. If you’re familiar with other Bluetooth trackers, like Tile or Chipolo, the Apple ones work pretty much the same way.

Accounting Methods: Cash vs. Accrual | businessnewsdaily.com

January 6, 2022January 5, 2022 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Is cash accounting or accrual accounting the best method for your business to use?

Cash and accrual accounting are two methods for financial reporting.
Individuals, small businesses and sole proprietorships use cash accounting to record revenues and expenditures when money is exchanged.
Accrual accounting maintains that credits and debits exist even if a monetary transaction has not been made. Many kinds of companies use this methodology.
This article is for business owners considering whether to use a cash or accrual accounting system.

Cash accounting and accrual accounting methods each have their advantages and disadvantages, but once you pick a particular accounting method it is important to apply it consistently. So how do you know which accounting method is best for your business? If you’re going to be tied to the method of accounting you choose, you want to make the optimal choice. This guide offers an overview of each accounting method and advice to help you choose the best one for your small business.

How to Manage a Team Effectively as a New Manager | Life Hack

January 5, 2022January 4, 2022 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Whether you are new as a manager or entering a new role and inheriting a team, you want to strategize your plan for success. Learning how to manage a team effectively as a new manager isn’t about jumping in and hoping you get the same luck as before. This is a new group of people with new expectations and work styles. Therefore, you’ll need to adapt to flourish as a new manager. This isn’t difficult if you’re willing to do a little pre-planning before your first day.

While there is a breadth of knowledge, skillsets, and expectations required for all successful managers, don’t get overwhelmed or let your inner critic get in your way. Remember, you were selected for this role because others have faith in you. Now, you need to show how you can manage a team effectively as a new leader. Take a deep breath and start with the basics then build from there. In time, your expertise and achievements will grow exponentially.

How to Engage Remote Employees in 5 Simple Steps | AllBusiness.com

January 3, 2022January 2, 2022 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Employee engagement isn’t easy. However, it becomes even more elusive when you experience the same challenges in a completely remote environment. As a co-founder of an employee engagement platform, I had a front seat to the moment when the whole world collectively went into a sudden lockdown, engagement levels plummeted, and companies scrambled to come up with a solution to engage their newly remote workforce.

Many believe that these days of remote working are limited, but I strongly disagree. While it’s tempting to think that these recent trends will only last as long as the world is still recovering from Covid-19, a McKinsey study says more than half of workers would like to work from home at least three days a week after the pandemic, and nearly a third say they would like to work remotely full time. Meanwhile, with the outpouring of support for the Great Resignation from employers, it is clear that some form of remote work or teleworking will be a permanent part of our future.

How to Accept Crypto Payments as a Small Business | Small Business Trends

January 3, 2022January 2, 2022 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

It took only four months within the first half of 2021 for the global cryptocurrency usage to double to over 200 million. In this article, we’ll show you how to accept crypto payments as a small business.

As more people continue to warm up to crypto, a good number of small businesses are way ahead of the news, positioning themselves to serve the increasing number of crypto-paying customers.

Accepting Cryptocurrency Payments

According to a January 2020 HSB nationwide survey, 36% of small businesses accept cryptocurrency payments. If you’re among the enterprises left out of the crypto payments bracket, it’s probably time to start figuring out how to accept crypto payments to keep pace with the competition.

In 2022, Get Ready for the Great Onboarding | Inc.com

December 29, 2021 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

It’s now been more than six months since the term “Great Resignation” started hitting headlines, as employees facing rising costs ventured out on a mass scale to look for better wages and better experiences. The term has taken on a life of its own, with countless articles, a Wikipedia page and even as the title of a book.

But so far, coverage of the “Great Resignation” has focused on the negative: the workers that businesses are losing. More than half a year after the start of this great exodus, it’s time for leaders to look at where employees are headed next and to get ready for the next phase of the ever-changing employment situation: “The Great Onboarding.”

Four Traditional Career Opportunities with a New Twist | Cool Business Ideas

December 27, 2021December 26, 2021 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

There are many small business opportunities out there, and you’ll inevitably run up against competitors in your field. Suppose you’ve been considering going into business for yourself or becoming a freelancer. In that case, you may want to look at a few traditional occupations that have taken on new importance and have evolved into new job opportunities.

Medical Scribe or Transcriptionist

In the past, medical transcriptionists were almost entirely work-from-home positions. The work primarily consisted of taking audio recordings from doctors and typing them verbatim into notes or reports. Transcribing was done from these recordings, usually made after the doctor had seen the patient.

How to schedule emails in Gmail | Mashable

December 27, 2021December 26, 2021 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

There are any number of reasons why it’s sometimes a good idea to roll with a write-now-send-later approach to emails.

Maybe you’ve got a big personal announcement coming up, but it’s happening at a very specific time when you won’t be around. Perhaps you really want to rave to a friend about everything you loved in Spider-Man: No Way Home while it’s fresh in your mind, except they’re not seeing it until tomorrow.

It’s equally helpful at work. Many of our employers have people spread out in different time zones across the country, if not the world. For email-heavy jobs especially, something you send during an Australian co-worker’s overnight may get buried; but if you schedule the send, you can ensure it pops up when they’re actually awake. Sometimes, too, it’s just momentum: You’re working hard, rolling through deadline after deadline, and you want to get a jump on future business.

Buy now, pay later is a huge hit with shoppers. Just how dangerous is it? | CNN

December 24, 2021December 23, 2021 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Lissette Monzon still feels a little guilty about a “crazy” purchase she made three years ago.

Monzon, 54, a high school English teacher in Florida, bought a $700 pair of Valentino boots in October 2018. Actress Blake Lively had been photographed wearing the mauve-colored footwear in Paris. Monzon saw the picture and fell in love.

“It was a lot of money for me, and I paid them off little by little,” she told CNN Business.

Monzon paid using Klarna, one of the several booming buy now, pay later services that let shoppers purchase products and pay in installments, often without incurring interest. Though Monzon had no trouble making her six repayments, the spending was out of character.